Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1887-04-01
The LEGISLATURE.

THE BONDHoLDERS' OFFER TO MEET
COMMISSION.
The telegram from the committee of
the bondholders proposing to meet COM
mission, on the subject of the State debt,
has been the subject of consideration and
action in the legislature for the past week.
The committee appointed by the Demo-
cratic caucus to prepare response to the
creditors proposition, composed of Messrs
Pollard. Figgatt. Koiner, Ellyson and
Barbour, prepared the following:
Whereas the Governor has communica-
ted to the General Assembly that the
Council of Foreign Bondholders have pro-
posed the appointment of a commission on
The part of the State of Virginia to confer
with commission to be appointed by them
looking to final settlement of the debt:
therefore be it
RESOLVED by the Senate 1.-THE House of
Delegates concurring,) That a JOINT COM
mittee consisting of three members of the
Senate and FIVE of the House be appointed
by the presiding officers of the respective
houses, who shall be charged with the
duty-frst, Of meeting with commission
from the Council Of Foreign Bondholders
and ascertalning what amount of the
bonds of Virginia is owned or controlled
by said COUNCIL of Foreign Bondholders;
second, to demonstrate to said commission
the inability of the people of the State to
bear a greater burden of taxation, and
also to show what are the revenues and
the necessary expenditures of the govern
ment and the available revenues fer the
payment OF interest. and to point out to
them that which addresses itself to "their
interest as we'll as to the interest of the
State.
g. That upon the passage of these reso-
lutions the Governor of the Common
wealth shall communicate a copy to the
Council of Foreign Bondholders and an
nounc6 to them that the committee ap-'
pointed hereunder will receive their cOm-
mission in the city of Richmond and at as
early day as practicable, not later than
April Goth next.
When the report was submitted to the
House OF Delegates it was adopted by
vote of SIS to Gall the negatives-Mc-
Candlish, Mathew, Southworth. Turner,
Waddill and Wise being Republicans.
In the Senate the resolution was passed
by the following vote-all the hayes being
Republicans:
AYEs-Messrs. Berry Blackstone, Col
trane, Dalton, Digs, Edmunds, EIlyson,
Gordon, HestCn, Hurt, Jones, Koiner,
Mccormick. Meredith, Rhea, Stubbs,
Thurman, Trout Twyman, Warwick.
Wickham, and Williams-22.
NoEs-Messrs. Bills, Causey, Duane,
Gee, Gillespie. Grim, Hodges, McDonaId
and NOFton--10.
In the discussion about the adoption of
the report the following occurred:
Mr. Curlett (Rep.l said that this ques-
ton would drag along for 100 years to
come unless the matter was decided now.
Let US appoint the commission. We can
not repudiate. You have gone on and on,
tanglt d up matters. until now you cannot
tell just where you are''
MIR. WISE (Rep.): ''You know all about
the State debt; can you tell me how the
funding bill came to be passed ?''
MIR. Curlett: II think that is matter
which we Republicans had better say and
think as little about as possible. Laugh
ter hope the resolution will pass"
THE W. L. ASYLUM APPROPRIATION.
The bill introduced by Mr.. Echols. ap-
propriating $4,000 to the W. L. Asylum
for improvements, was reported favorably
lTOtn Tue COumlGG60.
EXTENDING THE TIME FOR THE COL
LECTION OF TAXES.
The following bill introduced by Mr..
Derby was reported fayorably by the
House Committee on Finance:
l. Be it enacted by the General Assembly
of Virginia, That the time for collecting
the State taxes and county levies for the
unQ no nd 5r NV,
tended until the 1st day of August, 1887,
and that the county and city treasurers or
collectors shall not levy for the same be-
fore the lst day of August, 1887.
2. All acts and parts of acts inconsis-
tent with this act are hereby repealed.
8. This act shall be in force from its
passage.
PROPOSITION TO ABOLISH CAPITAL
PUNISHMENT.
Mr.. Edmunds for Mr.. Wickham, intro
duced the following in the Senate. which
was unanimously adopted:
"ResolUed, That the Committee for
Courts of Justice inquire into the expedf-
ency Of adjustment OF capital punish
ment in the State of Virginia, and report
by bill or otherwise
Accom- panying the resolution is men,
0randum from Judge Waller r. Staples,
suggesting WudG laws SHOULD Do amonQ6Q,
if the Legislature deems it wise to pass
such law. This memorandum proposes
the abolition of capital punishment, ex-
cept for the crime of treason, and pro-
vdes that murder in the first degree shall
be punished by confinement in the pen1-
Tertiary for life. 1t is generally under
stood that Friend John b. Crenshaw is the
father of this movement.
VISIT OF THE GOVERNOR OF PENNsYL-
WANNA AND STAFF.
Coy. Beaver, Lit. Gov. Davies and Sec
rotary of State Stone of Pennsylvania, and
several members of the Pennsylvania leg
islature being in the city on visit, the
House and Senate adopted resolutions in
vitlng them to'visit the legislature In the
House Messrs CurIett, Terry, Echols and
Webb were appointed a committee to wait
on and receive them. The visitors went to
the capitol Saturday and were received by
both the Senate and House. courtesies